Job Opening: Plant Ontology Project Coordinator

Position Title: Research Associate (Senior Postdoc) / Research Associate
(Postdoc)
Working Title: Plant Ontology Project Coordinator

How to Apply:
--------------
To review the position description and apply, go to posting #0004322 at
[Only registered users see links. ]. When applying, you will be required to
electronically submit your application, a cover letter citing your
interest in the position and your experience, and a CV/resume including
3 references. Closing date 7/15/09.

Position description:
---------------------
The Plant Ontology Consortium ([Only registered users see links. ]) is seeking
applicants for a full-time position of scientific curator who will
coordinate the Consortium’s efforts. The Plant Ontology Consortium is a
collaboration among researchers at Oregon State University, Cornell
University and New York Botanical Garden. The Consortium also
collaborates with the curators of many model organism databases
including rice, Arabidopsis, maize, grasses, legumes, Solanaceae,
bryophytes and plant phylogenomics. The project aims to develop shared
vocabularies on plant anatomy and growth and developmental stages, to
describe patterns of phenotype(s) and gene expression. For more details
on the project please see the publications (PubMed IDs:18194960,
17142475, 16905665, 18629207)


Duties / Responsibilities:
--------------------------
Develop and refine the ontologies with the PO curators in participating
databases and core labs, annotate gene products and stocks with the
vocabularies in the ontologies, participate in the development and
application of methods to streamline and enhance the quality of
annotations, manage website content, set project milestones, organize
and moderate project meetings, and work with the project members to
deliver the database releases and project reports on strict timelines.


Required qualifications:
------------------------
Ph.D. in an aspect of plant biology (e.g. Development, Physiology,
Biochemistry, Genetics, Plant Pathology, Systematics) and/or genomics,
Phylogenomics, Systematics, Plant Biology and Plant Anatomy. Available
immediately to start working on the project. Demonstrated ability for
independent, critical thinking and excellent communication, networking
and teamwork skills. Previous work in any one or more areas of Plant
Development, Plant Physiology, Plant Biochemistry, Plant Genetics and/or
genomics, Plant Pathology, Museum specimen curation, Phylogenomics,
Systematics, Plant Biology and Plant Anatomy. Excellent communication
skills in English is a must. Experience in teaching and outreach.
Familiarity with Plant Development and Anatomy. Able to travel and
attend 3-4 meetings/year of the PO consortium.

In order to be considered for the Research Associate (senior Postdoc)
position, the candidate must have 3 or more years of
postdoctoral/scientist research experience and supporting publications
in peer reviewed international journals. The selection committee will
judge the candidate based on the qualifications below; in addition, to
showing the ability to lead on a scientific project as an independent
researcher.


Preferred qualifications:
-------------------------
Past experience in project coordination, large scale gene expression and
phenotype evaluation, familiarity with basic UNIX commands,
spreadsheets, and commonly used biological research tools such as BLAST
and Literature Database search is desired. A working knowledge of PERL
and/or SQL will be considered an asset but not required.